Claude L'Engle Papers

Spanning the years 1910- 1919, the collection contains materials relating to L'Engle's career as an editor and a Congressman. Of particular interest are his articles and speeches on the subject of General Extension at the University of Florida. L'Engle wanted to create a governing body to broaden educational opportunities for Florida citizens. He promoted this goal with enthusiasm through his newspapers and articles. His desire to sit on the Extension Board led to conflict with Albert A. Murphree, the second President of the University of Florida, who opposed his appointment. In addition, personal letters addressed to his son Frank L'Engle, during the years 1917-1918 when Frank was in the Navy, touch briefly on control of the extension board and World War I. L'Engle's opinion on the war, the U.S.'s participation and the making of the peace, is occasionally represented within his correspondence and editorials. Papers from his term in the U.S. Congress include bills he sponsored. Additional materials include samples of L'Engle's fiction, which tend to show his prejudices against African-Americans.

A scrapbook contains newspaper clippings that cover a 1907 trial in which L'Engle was accused of libeling Peter O. Knight, an attorney. For particulars on this scrapbook see the separate description at: http://www.library.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/lengle.htm